nfluential mining mafias are minting money in Gujarat, thanks to their unholy nexus with policemen and bureaucrats.

Precious limestone, bauxite, lignite and other useful minerals are being surreptitiously excavated day in and day out from the protected five-kilometre stretch around the leafy Gir wildlife sanctuary, the last abode of the Asiatic lions, for the past 30 years with no one to question the illegal activity.

Environmentalist Amit Jethwa who did object to the unauthorised mining through a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad on July 13 was shot dead from point-blank range a week later outside the very hall of justice. Though the 32-year-old whistle-blower is no more, his brother is bent on continuing the legal battle to make sure that the thieves of the rich natural resources get their just deserts before the 1,450-square-km jungle with rich flora and fauna goes to rack and ruin.

Jethwa's father has in another petition prayed for an independent inquiry into his son's murder and pointed an accusing finger at the parliamentarian of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dinu Solanki, from Junagadh. He said that the powerful, dreaded politician alone owns 55 of the 200-odd shady mines in his constituency that cover the woodlands.

Surprisingly, while four people, including Solanki's nephew, have been hauled up in the case progressing at a snail's pace, the police are yet to grill the lawmaker who is a close relative of Vaju Vala, the seniormost member of the Narendra Modi ministry.

The mining activities in the deserted region like blasting of explosives, shifting of heavy machinery and the constant noise of the machines drive the lions out of the Gir sanctuary from time to time with the result that 74 of the 411 big cats have so far made their homes outside the protected jungle and often attack lonely passerby or even fall into unused wells.

However, following a high court order in response to Jethwa's PIL, the BJP regime had earlier this week assured the bench that a stringent policy to put an end to unlawful mining is being formulated and will be ready before the next hearing on November 15.

The region around the Gir national park, indeed, is a no-man's land with only a few ramshackle dwellings of poverty-stricken labourers who actually two-time as informers for the treacherous owners of the unlicensed mines. But the area is so rich in minerals that even reputed cement companies have set up their units in the nearby coastal strip for easy transportation of raw materials.

According to the geology and mines-minerals department, the land in and around Gir is a bottomless storehouse of minerals, possessing 11,500 million tonnes of A-grade, rare limestone, 1,072 million tonnes of lignite, 105 million tonnes of Bauxite and bentonite and 720 million tonnes of dolomite, with granite, silicon, china clay and fire-clay available in abundance.

The miners do not bother to pay royalty -- say, Rs240 a tonne for limestone -- to the government and, when caught once in a blue moon, willingly shell out the 10-fold fine, a negligible amount compared to the huge profits they make through sale of stolen minerals.

The government itself has revealed in the assembly that it has collected fines totalling Rs50 million from unscrupulous miners but their total dues on account of non-payment of mining royalty are Rs100 million.

Like countless nature lovers, local Congress legislator Dhirsinh Barad had time and again complained to the mines department and even Chief Minister Narendra Modi and also raised the issue of illegal mining in the monsoon session of the assembly but in vain.

As rights lawyer Vijay Nagesh says, these violators of the mines and minerals Act get away with murder by just paying the fine while they could be jailed for up to three years for theft of natural wealth.

Luckily, the Central government has decided to intensify its drive against illegal mining by soon making registration of miners and traders mandatory for proper accounting of all minerals-related transactions.

A new bill, Mines and Minerals Regulations and Development, is also being finalised with stricter provisions to check illegal mining and is likely to be introduced soon in the next Parliament session.

At present, there are not enough legal provisions for Central intervention in illegal mining in states. The magnitude of the problem is so great that as many as 42,000 cases of violation were detected in 11 mineral-bearing states last year.

Says Nagesh: "Mines are properties of the Indian government and the state governments should protect them. Illegal activities cannot flourish without connivance between the corrupt police and selfish miners."

Influential mining mafias are minting money in Gujarat, thanks to their unholy nexus with policemen and bureaucrats.

Precious limestone, bauxite, lignite and other useful minerals are being surreptitiously excavated day in and day out from the protected five-kilometre stretch around the leafy Gir wildlife sanctuary, the last abode of the Asiatic lions, for the past 30 years with no one to question the illegal activity.

Environmentalist Amit Jethwa who did object to the unauthorised mining through a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad on July 13 was shot dead from point-blank range a week later outside the very hall of justice. Though the 32-year-old whistle-blower is no more, his brother is bent on continuing the legal battle to make sure that the thieves of the rich natural resources get their just deserts before the 1,450-square-km jungle with rich flora and fauna goes to rack and ruin.

Jethwa's father has in another petition prayed for an independent inquiry into his son's murder and pointed an accusing finger at the parliamentarian of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dinu Solanki, from Junagadh. He said that the powerful, dreaded politician alone owns 55 of the 200-odd shady mines in his constituency that cover the woodlands.

Surprisingly, while four people, including Solanki's nephew, have been hauled up in the case progressing at a snail's pace, the police are yet to grill the lawmaker who is a close relative of Vaju Vala, the seniormost member of the Narendra Modi ministry.

The mining activities in the deserted region like blasting of explosives, shifting of heavy machinery and the constant noise of the machines drive the lions out of the Gir sanctuary from time to time with the result that 74 of the 411 big cats have so far made their homes outside the protected jungle and often attack lonely passerby or even fall into unused wells.

However, following a high court order in response to Jethwa's PIL, the BJP regime had earlier this week assured the bench that a stringent policy to put an end to unlawful mining is being formulated and will be ready before the next hearing on November 15.

The region around the Gir national park, indeed, is a no-man's land with only a few ramshackle dwellings of poverty-stricken labourers who actually two-time as informers for the treacherous owners of the unlicensed mines. But the area is so rich in minerals that even reputed cement companies have set up their units in the nearby coastal strip for easy transportation of raw materials.

According to the geology and mines-minerals department, the land in and around Gir is a bottomless storehouse of minerals, possessing 11,500 million tonnes of A-grade, rare limestone, 1,072 million tonnes of lignite, 105 million tonnes of Bauxite and bentonite and 720 million tonnes of dolomite, with granite, silicon, china clay and fire-clay available in abundance.

The miners do not bother to pay royalty -- say, Rs240 a tonne for limestone -- to the government and, when caught once in a blue moon, willingly shell out the 10-fold fine, a negligible amount compared to the huge profits they make through sale of stolen minerals.

The government itself has revealed in the assembly that it has collected fines totalling Rs50 million from unscrupulous miners but their total dues on account of non-payment of mining royalty are Rs100 million.

Like countless nature lovers, local Congress legislator Dhirsinh Barad had time and again complained to the mines department and even Chief Minister Narendra Modi and also raised the issue of illegal mining in the monsoon session of the assembly but in vain.

As rights lawyer Vijay Nagesh says, these violators of the mines and minerals Act get away with murder by just paying the fine while they could be jailed for up to three years for theft of natural wealth.

Luckily, the Central government has decided to intensify its drive against illegal mining by soon making registration of miners and traders mandatory for proper accounting of all minerals-related transactions.

A new bill, Mines and Minerals Regulations and Development, is also being finalised with stricter provisions to check illegal mining and is likely to be introduced soon in the next Parliament session.

At present, there are not enough legal provisions for Central intervention in illegal mining in states. The magnitude of the problem is so great that as many as 42,000 cases of violation were detected in 11 mineral-bearing states last year.

Says Nagesh: "Mines are properties of the Indian government and the state governments should protect them. Illegal activities cannot flourish without connivance between the corrupt police and selfish miners."

Saturday, October 23, 2010

State Tribal Development Dept ropes in NIFT to train women of Siddi tribe to make lifestyle products like bags, clutches, jewellery and Kutchi embroidery

Soon, tourists visiting Gir forest in Junagadh will get a chance to take home designer souvenirs made by women of Siddi tribe, a distinctly Negroid-looking community that resides on the periphery of the Gir Forest. The State Tribal Development Department has roped in National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to train Siddi women in making lifestyle products like bags, clutches, jewellery and traditional Kutchi embroidery.

Associate Professor Panchami Mistry will conduct a four-month workshop at Hadmatiya village in Sasan Gir. Panchami says, "Siddi women are educated and can quickly grasp anything — a plus point for them. They are also very hard-working and want to earn good money for their family.

Since they are already good at making handicrafts, we have decided to train them in designing lifestyle products, which can be embellished with African and Gujarati artwork. Also, they would be trained in making bead and wooden jewellery. We will also sensitise and encourage these women to come up with their own ideas and designs in making such products."

NIFT to use replica of Gazala — a 3-yr-old child from the tribe — to create logo which will identify Siddi products

She adds, "During the initial stage of the project, we received an overwhelming from women who want to participate in this workshop as they wish to be self-employed rather than depend on the male members of the tribe.

Around 150 women will be divided into three groups for the workshop. The products will range from handbags, clutches, pen stands, cushion covers, photo frames, toys and bead as well as wooden jewellery."

To give a unique identity to these products, NIFT will promote the figurine of Gazala — daughter of one of the Siddi women — dressed in Gujarati or Siddi attire. This mascot will be available with all products and will also be the logo of the project.

"Gazala is a three-year-old girl from the tribe. She is very intelligent and naughty. She is the perfect mascot for us. The 'Gazala' logo will ensure that customers will immediately associate products with Siddi tribe. We want people to know about this ethnic tribe which has embraced Gujarati culture and tradition wholeheartedly," said NIFT professor.

The Siddis are a tribal community, whose ancestors were brought by Arab merchants from Africa around 600 years ago to serve as soldiers or slaves under the Portuguese and British authorities, or as servants to the Nawabs. More than 22,000 Siddis live in 19 villages in Junagadh.

The products, made by Siddi women (below), will feature African and Gujarati art

Siddi women are smart and hardworking. Since they are good at making handicrafts, we decided to train them in designing lifestyle products, which can be embellished with African and Gujarati artwork– Panchami Mistry, Associate Professor at NIFT

Some of the wooden and bead jewellery that tourists visiting Gir forest would soon be able to buy

Gir National Park, the only home of the Asiatic Lions in Gujarat, is expecting new arrivals in the next three months, as the mating season of the big cats came to an end recently.

The park remained closed for nearly four months from June 16 to October 10 this year on account of the mating season, said, Sudeep Kumar Nanda, Principal Secretary (Environment and Forests).

As per the animal Census in April, there were 411 wild cats in the park including 162 female lions, of which 75 had matured for sexual activity, he said.

According to wildlife experts, 10 female lions give birth to 23 cubs on an average. "It is difficult to say anything about their survival rate. However, we are expecting about 165 new cubs. If the mating has been successful, a gestation period of 3.5 months follows and new ones are likely to arrive sometime in November and December, bringing in a lot of visitors," Sandeep Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests, said.

Spread in an area of 1412 sq km, the Gir comprises deciduous forests, evergreen vegetation, thorn scrub and grasslands. It is a natural habitat to leopards besides the Asiatic Lions.

The Wildlife Sanctuary has witnessed an increased inflow of tourists after it opened on October 10 following superstar Amitabh Bachchan's visit for the ad shoot of Gujarat Tourism here.

A 10-year-old girl was dragged away and killed by a leopard at a field in Dhari taluka of Amreli district on Monday night. This is the second such incident in last 15 days when a leopard has killed a child in the region.

According to reports, victim Laxmi Devi Pujak and her family had come to the village to meet her aunt. The incident happened in the night when Laxmi was collecting firewood from the field in Dangawadar village. The leopard pounced on her and dragged her to an adjacent field. Hearing her screams, villagers rushed to Laxmi's help. But by then, the big cat had escaped, leaving behind her body.

The incident has caused panic in the village, especially as this is the second such death recently. Earlier, an eight-yearold tribal girl was dragged away while she was sleeping at night in an open hutment at a farm and killed by a leopard in Dhari range of the Gir sanctuary. Chandrika Bamaniya, a native of Jambua district in Madhya Pradesh, and her family had moved to Gopalgram village in Dhari taluka of Amreli district for labour work in agriculture. The family was sleeping in a makeshift arrangement in an open agriculture field.

Friday, October 15, 2010

In a new twist to RTI activist Amit Jethava's murder, his father has moved a petition before the Gujarat high court seeking to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The case at present is being investigated by the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB). Justice Akil Kureshi, after a primary hearing of the petition, asked the high court registry to place the petition before the court of the chief justice as it is already hearing the Jethava murder case. Amit Jethava, a prominent RTI and environment activist, was killed by two assailants in front of the Gujarat high court premises on July 20 this year.

Jethava was allegedly murdered because he filed a petition raising questions about illegal mining within the 5 km prohibited periphery of Gir forest. Jethava's father has alleged that the murder was carried out at the behest of Dinu Bogha Solanki, a Junagadh MP and the mining businessmen of the area.

The DCB has already arrested Dinu Solanki's nephew Shiva Solanki and others in connection with the case. Jethava's petition is pending before the chief justice and DCB has also submitted a status report of the investigation in the case.

Anand Yagnik, counsel for Bhikha Jethava, father of Amit Jethava, submitted in the petition that the prime suspect Dinu is a BJP MP and therefore the present investigating agency will not dare touch him.

Dinu is a relative of Vajubhai Vala, the state finance minister, the petition states.

Yagnik further submitted that, several people have in their statements to the police categorically stated that Dinu was the one who got Jethava killed."But till date he has not been interrogated nor has the police made an effort to ascertain his role in the case," the petition stated. It further alleged that the investigation has come to a halt after the arrest of Dinu's nephew Shiva.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Sardul Unad Bagh, a Maldhari living in Laheriya Ness near Tulsishyam was grazing his herd of buffaloes in the jungle. Suddenly he saw a Lioness sitting on prowl tohunt. So he moved his buffaloes away and lioness attacked him on his back. When buffaloes saw this, they turned back and ran towards lioness. Lioness left Sardul and ran away into the jungle. Injured man was taken to hospital. He had seven stiches on the would on his back.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A pride of three lioness, one lion and four sub-adult entered into farm land at Patla village near Bheshan (near Girnar wildlife sanctuary.) They attacked two bullocks before the eyes of farmer and farm labours. One bullock was killed on the spot and other was fatally injured. Farmers are demanding speedy compensation from forest department in cattle killing case.

Monday, October 11, 2010

A lion pair in matting came to a farm in Jamwala village. The farm was owned by Bawabhai Naranbhai Sakhreliy. Male lion alone was sitting near the Open Well waiting for lioness to come out. In the morning farm labours saw lion and found out about the incidence Immidiately Forest Department was informe and lioness was rescued. After treatment of small injuries it was set free in the jungle.

An eight-year-old tribal girl was dragged away while she was sleeping in an open hutment at a farm and killed by a leopard in Dhari range of the Gir sanctuary during Wednesday night.

According to Maniswar Raja, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Gir East, Chandrika Bamaniya, a native of Jambua district in Madhya Pradesh, and her family had moved to Gopalgram village in Dhari taluka of Amreli district four years ago for labour work in agriculture.

On Wednesday night, the family was sleeping in a makeshift arrangement in an open agriculture field. "It was only early in the morning when the girl's father Mersan Bamniya woke up and did not see his daughter that he tried to locate her. He found her body in a cotton field, about 500 metres from where they had been sleeping,'' Raja said.

"Bamaniya alerted the forest department soon after the incident and officials reached the spot. As per the rules, the family will get a compensation of Rs 1 lakh,'' Raja added.

The body has been sent for postmortem. "We have placed cages in the area where the leopard picked up the girl," Raja said, adding, "To avoid such incidents, we have asked farmers and labourers to avoid sleeping in the open fields."

A devipujak Bhikhu Tapu was sleeping in a farm at Chhatadia village in Sarasiya range in Gir East. He had leased Savji Thumar Patel's land for farming.

Yesterday night, after day long work, he was sleeping in open in his farm when the incidence happened. Lion caught him by his leg and started pulling him. When the man started screaming to save his life lion left him and ran away. Man was taken to Dhari hospital and is safe.

An eight-year-old tribal girl was dragged away while she was sleeping in an open hutment at a farm and killed by a leopard in Dhari range of the Gir sanctuary during Wednesday night.

According to Maniswar Raja, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), Gir East, Chandrika Bamaniya, a native of Jambua district in Madhya Pradesh, and her family had moved to Gopalgram village in Dhari taluka of Amreli district four years ago for labour work in agriculture.

On Wednesday night, the family was sleeping in a makeshift arrangement in an open agriculture field. "It was only early in the morning when the girl's father Mersan Bamniya woke up and did not see his daughter that he tried to locate her. He found her body in a cotton field, about 500 metres from where they had been sleeping,'' Raja said.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Yesterday night when forest guard P V keshoja was patrolling Javantri forest. Saw two gunned men entering the forest. He challenged them and in turn they attacked the guard. Inspite of injures forest guard caught one of the two poachers. He was Jan Mohammad Sidi Makwana (40 years) of Valadar. Guard informed Jamwada range office and other staff immediately came to his help. They recovered iron-rods, knives etc. from the poacher. March is on to catch ISha Sandhi who ran away. Forest department says they may be poaching deer and small animals for meat.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

There are about 86 Asiatic Lions in zoos outside India. In past, Sakarbag Zoo located at Junagadh, Gujarat has given many Gir lions to Switzerland, Sweden, Hornsingi, England, Singapore, Russia and other zoos. Lastly in 1993, it had supplied fresh stock of lions to foreign zoos to maintain pure breed outside India. A stud book of these lions is maintained at Sakarbag zoo and last entry in this is 240. In last about two years time it has succeffuly reared new born 20 cubs. If need be again it will provide more no. of lions to foreign zoos to maintain pure breed.

Despite high human population - about one sixth humans of the world packed in an area which is one third of China or America - Indians have unique position in the world in the field of wildlife conservation.

In Asia, no country is near India in richness of wildlife and its preservation, although they were equally rich in wildlife before the Second World War.

Status of wild mega mammals is indicator of degree of wildlife management. At present, out of 48,000 Asiatic elephant in Asia, 28,000-30,000 elephants are in the Indian forests; of 20,000 leopards in Asia, 13,000-14,000 leopards are in India; despite present crisis of tiger, about half of the total tigers are in Indian forests. Similar stories can be mentioned for other species also.

In 1890s, LL Fenton wrote that the Asiatic lion was very common in Iran and Iraq but was on verge of extinction in the Gir forest of India. After a few decades since then, the lion disappeared from Asia Minor.

But the story of the Asiatic lion in the Gir forest turned one of the best conservation stories in the world. Number of lion improved from few dozen at the beginning of twentieth century to over 410 in 2010 in the Gir forest of Gujarat. Now number is a problem as lions move in the villages in new areas to reclaim their territories.

Gujarat has few other successful wildlife management stories which may be enlisted among the best conservation stories in the world.

The number of Indian wild ass, locally called Ghudkhar increased from about 400 individuals in 1960s to over 4,000 individuals in and around the Rann of Kutch at present. As per the report of the Forest Survey of India, the mangrove cover in the state has improved from less than 400 sq. km. in 1993 to about 1,050 sq. km. in 2009. The tree cover in the non-forest area has also improved due to intense social forestry activities.

Now villages in Gujarat are greener than their green covers in 1970s. This was achieved despite tremendous development pressure because the character and behavior of the Indian society have deep root in cultural and religious strength that evolved and persisted over a period.

India is a land of Lord Gautam Buddha, Lord Mahavir and Mahatma Gandhi, the leaders who have advocated non-violence and respect to the living organisms. Unlike other countries, especially the developed world, wildlife conservation is deep rooted in the Indian culture.

Our mythology, ancient art, literature, folk lore, religion, the rock edicts and scriptures, all provide ample proof that wildlife enjoyed a privileged position in India's ancient past - Kautilya's Arthashastra reveals the attention focused on wildlife in the Mauryan period: certain forests were declared protected and called Abhayaranya like the present day 'sanctuary'. Heavy penalties, including capital punishment, were prescribed for offenders who entrapped, killed or otherwise molested elephants, deer, bison, birds, or fish, amongst other animals.

Currently, all is not well in the conservation field. Present Indian society has global interaction. The world of consumerism has influenced the new generation. A different kind of war, waged between conservation and development, and between the forest and the tribal is already being fought.

Like people of the western world, the present Indians have less tolerance to wildlife. Old Maharajas are gone but they are now replaced by another set of Neo-Maharajas - industrialists - a biggest land grabber who form a nexus with corrupt politicians and bureaucrats to establish their empire at the cost of natural ecosystems and livelihood of poor people. It is weakening our basis of sustainable development; there is a need to counter the forces responsible for loss of nature and natural resources by creating awakening in the society.

Despite these problems, there is small positive change in certain areas where wildlife disappeared or got depleted. Within tribal society, there has been change in attitude of people.

A large number of tribal in villages in Sabarkantha, Panchmahals and Dahod have left consuming liquor and eating meat and they have become Bhagat. Sighting of animals including peacock, python etc were rare a few decades ago in these areas but now it is very common, as people have stopped killing wild animals.

How we transform our society in the forested region is a challenge, but future of wildlife conservation depends how we enrich our tradition and culture as it is happening in several villages in Gujarat. But this may not happen in isolation because the offence or onslaught of elite groups or neo maharajas on nature and environment cause unrest and tension in the society - a bigger challenge for wildlife conservation.

Gujarat High Court on Thursday directed the state government to form committees, comprising collector, DSP and sub-divisional magistrates, in every district to curb illegal mining across the state.

Acting on an PIL filed by RTI activist Amit Jethava against alleged illegal mining carried out in the prohibited Gir sanctuary, a bench headed by Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya asked the government to constitute committees that could monitor the mining activities in the remotest of villages too.

The court insisted that besides government officials, the committee could also have members from local civic bodies like gram panchayat and taluka panchayat depending upon the requirement.

The bench also observed that if people from every taluka started filing PILs regarding illegal mining, the high court would be flooded with PILs. Therefore, it would be advisable for people to approach the monitoring committees, which can redress the issue at the local level, the court said.

A month before he was killed on July 20, Jethava had filed a PIL urging the court to stop illegal mining. The HC has taken up the issue of Jethava's murder and often sought status report on the probe. Further hearing on this issue has been slated for October 18.